I need first time anime recommendations.

[loc978]

Cowboy Bebop and Black Lagoon are the most westernized anime I can think of... Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Full Metal Panic are also good starters, though.

 

[mireko]

If you want something funny you could try Azumanga Daioh, it's the show that got me into anime something like six years ago. I didn't quite "get it" at first, but once I'd watched the first two episodes I was completely hooked. It's a bit more approachable than a lot of newer anime since it's from the time before moe became popular.

If you want something with a little more action, watch Ghost in the Shell, then watch Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Or the other way around, there's no continuity to worry about.

Honestly, Stand Alone Complex is the best TV sci-fi anime I've ever seen. NGE can suck it.

Hard.

[small]Dennou Coil and Serial Experiments Lain are better too.[/small]

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. All excellent gateway anime.

Yeah, a show that consists mostly of satire and references to other anime is a great gateway anime..

Shinryaku! Ika Musume.
/thread

^^^This too. [small]But make sure nobody's around when you watch episode 5, part 3. ;_;[/small]

 

[Best of the 3]

I'd go Full Metal Alchemist. Funny when needed, serious when needed, English voice dub is good, so that can take away the Japanes factor from it. Other then that... Code Geass, but that's more serious than funny.

Not many I can think of where you can remove the Japanese from, seeing as it is anime after all =3

 

[Ironbat92]

Dragon Ball Z Kai.

 

[MuddShark6]

Cowboy Bebop, and I would say Full Metal is pretty well rounded too.

 

[NobodyHereButUsTrees]

Nothing overtly Japanese? Huh. I'm guessing you mean over-the-top batsh*t crazy, kawaii-desu stuff, right?

Fullmetal Alchemist
Black Lagoon
Claymore
School Rumble
Prince of Tennis*
Great Teacher Onizuka*

*I got started on these two in middle school, and I liked them immensely.

Edit: Crap, I forgot to mention Soul Eater!

 

[The3rdEye]

Gurren Lagann and Akira are good starting points.

NOT AKIRA, not for your first foray into anime. That monster will chew you up, spit you out, spread you on a cracker and then eat you alive.

Full Metal Alchemist:Brotherhood is my recommendation. It revolves around a decidedly European setting and culture, and contains elements of both "magic" and science and I found the storyline to be excellently written. Plus it taps the entire "Who are we?" thing that is so prevalent in 'serious' anime.

If you can handle that and want something a little sillier, Tengen Toppa Gurren Laggann. Either the movies where they cut out a large amount of the fluff and fanservice while making the occasional unnecessary change to the scipt, or the full series... if you don't mind the 'service and filler.

 

[Haydyn]

Claymore. Perfect example of women being badass without piles of fanservice.

 

[Jabberwock xeno]

Dragon Ball Z Kai.

This, but without kai.

Just DBZ.

 

[Marik2]

Anime that isn't Japanese?

Um...Kappa Mikey is all that comes to mind.

Did that show get canceled?

So... yeah. Just something easy, funny if possible. Nothing to overly... japanish...

Well Witchblade has a great mix of west and east animation and a great dub, so you can go with that.

And also the boondocks is hilarious its got some anime inspirations.

 

[trollnystan]

I always recommend Ghibli films for those uninitiated in anime. As kids' films they're a nice soft way to check out anime yet they're great entertainment for adults too. Spirited Away, The Cat Returns, My Neighbour Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies are my favourites; that last one though is a real tear-jerker. I also quite like Satoshi Kon films like Tokyo Godfathers or Millennium Actress - or Perfect Blue if you want to watch a thriller.

I haven't watched any newer anime series in a while though, so I can't say much about those. If you like or don't mind rom-coms set in high school I would strongly recommend Lovely Complex but without knowing what you mean by "not too Japanish" I'm not sure that's something you'd like or not.

Good luck!

 

[Ladette]

Hellsing is probably the least Japanese anime i've seen. Most people wouldn't find it funny though.

The first half of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is funny and awesome, with the 2nd half being all about the awesome.

Fullmetal Alchemist, both the original and Brotherhood, are awesome as well.

 

[Dominus Sanguis]

I'd have to go with Trigun or Kenichi the mightiest disciple

 

[Limettycat]

Berserk, Great teacher onizuka, Boku no pico

 

[GlassWolf]

Full Metal Alchemist the 2003 anime, very good choice.
Note, NOT BROTHERHOOD, the 2003 Version

 

[Zekkykins]

Original Fullmetal Alchemist, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Ghost in the Shell, Gurren Lagann, Cowboy Bebop, Princess Mononoke, Now and Then Here and There, School Days, Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni and Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni Kai.

There, I just listed all of the best anime to ever exist.

Enjoy.

 

[Moosh50]

You want anime that's not too japanish? Right...

Well, like always when recommending an anime, I recommend Hajime no Ippo. It's without a doutb the funniest aniem I've seen. Also, it's a shounen sport series full of energy. After 10 or so episodes you'll feel the desire to hit the gym yourself!

 

[nicebuffalo]

take it from someone who watches very little anime. afro samurai is super awesome.

 

[Evidencebased]

I second the rec's for Fullmetal Alchemist, Trigun, Black Lagoon -- all a good mix of humorous and violent. Also I *would* recommend shows like Naruto and One Piece but they are about a billion episodes long by now so maybe not great to start with...

(But, uh Now and Then Here and There is only "funny" if you think things like child soldiers are hilarious...if you're in the mood for watching a raped girl debate if she should get an abortion then I think you'll enjoy it. )